CHPA Applauds Delaware's Adoption of House Bill 130

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) today applauded state Representative Rebecca Walker, the Delaware Legislature and Governor Jack Markell for passing and signing House Bill 130, an anti-methamphetamine bill. With Governor Markell's signature, Delaware became the 29th state to adopt the pseudoephedrine (PSE) real-time, stop-sale blocking system known as the National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx).

NPLEx is a proven and effective tool that allows retailers and pharmacists to block unlawful attempted purchases of cold and allergy medicines containing PSE that exceed daily or monthly limits established by the 2005 federal Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act. Although law-abiding consumers make the vast majority of PSE purchases, some criminals illegally obtain these products in order to manufacture meth. NPLEx empowers retailers and law enforcement officials with the ability to track and block illegal sales of products containing PSE at the counter. Prior to the implementation of NPLEx, retailers had to manually record PSE purchases in a hand-written logbook--a time-consuming and ineffective system for preventing unlawful sales. NPLEx provides a useful tool for police officers and narcotics agents. Law enforcement officials have instant access to PSE purchasing activity even across state lines - a feature which helps determine suspicious purchases thus leading to arrests. The system is provided at no charge to the state.

"With Governor Markell's signature on this important legislation, Delaware joins the majority of states throughout the country in its use of illegal sales blocking technology," CHPA President and CEO Scott Melville said. "In addition to Delaware, 28 other states have chosen to adopt the NPLEx system because it provides an exceptional resource to law enforcement and retailers, while ensuring that law-abiding consumers continue to have access to the cold and allergy medicines they know and trust. More than 18 million American families rely on safe and effective medicines containing pseudoephedrine for relief from their symptoms. We applaud Governor Markell, state Representative Rebecca Walker, and the Delaware legislature for advancing legislation that targets criminals, not responsible Delaware families."

CHPA is the 132-year-old-trade association representing U.S. manufacturers and distributors of over-the-counter medicines and dietary supplements.